The Commanders announced three updates to their front office staff this week. With new leadership in general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, the team sees two staffers depart and one scout join his former boss. Firstly, senior director of player development Malcolm Blacken will not be retained in 2024, per Ben Standig of The Athletic. Serving multiple stints with the team since 1999, Blacken had risen to his role from years as a strength and conditioning coach. Joining Blacken in departure will be college scout Harrison Ritcher. According to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com ..read more

Today’s rookie draft pick signings as we head into the weekend: Atlanta Falcons OLB Bralen Trice (third round, Washington) Houston Texans S Calen Bullock (third round, USC) Bullock joins a talented group in Houston and will have a chance to learn behind a veteran in Jimmie Ward before eventually having a chance to earn the starting job. Trice becomes the third pass rusher selected in the first three rounds by the Falcons in as many years. With Arnold Ebiketie and Zach Harrison showing limited production in short samples, Atlanta will hope for a more immediate impact from Trice ..read more

The Falcons have changed defensive coordinators twice since Ade Ogundeji last played, and the Raheem Morris–Jimmy Lake duo does not have the former starter in its plans. Atlanta cut the fourth-year pass rusher Thursday. A 2021 fifth-round pick, Ogundeji worked as a starter for much of his first two seasons before suffering a season-nullifying injury during training camp last year. The Dean Pees-era starter, who suffered a foot injury last season, missed the Ryan Nielsen season and will be looking elsewhere ahead of Morris and Lake’s first season running Atlanta’s defense. [RELATED: Chargers Si ..read more

Jake Rosenberg‘s Eagles exit is now official. After a report earlier this offseason indicated Rosenberg would step down following a 12-year tenure with the team, the Eagles’ VP of football administration made the announcement (via PHLY.com’s Zach Berman). A friend of GM Howie Roseman‘s dating back to elementary school, Rosenberg assisted the Eagles on the salary cap front. The team has frequently been ahead of the curve in this area, as its 2024 offseason reinforced. It is not known where Rosenberg is headed, but this marks another key departure in the Eagles’ front office. Two years ago, four ..read more

Wednesday’s minor NFL moves: Atlanta Falcons: Signed: CB Anthony Johnson Denver Broncos Waived: S Cam Allen Jacksonville Jaguars Signed: Ty Summers Waived with injury designation: WR Wayne Ruby Minnesota Vikings Re-signed: DL James Lynch Lynch sat on the free agent market for quite some time, but his patience pays off. He’ll return to Minnesota for his fourth season with the team. He’s started three games for the Vikings in 28 game appearances over the last two years. Allen, a part of Denver’s 13-man undrafted free agent class, sees a short tenure with the Broncos come to an end. Once ..read more

A post-draft report pegged Kirk Cousins as stunned by the Falcons’ decision to choose Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. The move came after the team signed Cousins to a contract that includes $100MM in practical guarantees. Some around the league are already wondering if the Falcons will be ready to trade Cousins in 2025, as only the Packers have tried a multiyear QB apprenticeship during the rookie pay-scale era (2011-present). Cousins did respond, “I don’t deal in hypotheticals” when asked if he would have signed with the Falcons knowing they would use a top-10 pick on a passer. But the vete ..read more

Jerry Jacobs has been on the market since the Lions elected not to retain him via an RFA tender. The veteran corner has since drawn interest from a list of teams which is growing. Jacobs has visits lined up with the Falcons and Vikings, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Jacksonville recently hosted the 26-year-old as well, so he could have a few options to choose from when joining a new team this offseason. He has made 40 appearances (including 29 starts) over the past three seasons, all with Detroit. The Lions’ secondary was a weak point last year, and it comes as little surprise the unit h ..read more

Today’s minor moves: Atlanta Falcons Signed: TE Ross Dwelley Carolina Panthers Signed: LB Cam Gill, DL T.J. Smith Chicago Bears Signed: WR John Jackson, DT Dashaun Mallory, LB Paul Moala, WR Freddie Swain Detroit Lions Signed: WR Kaden Davis, TE Parker Hesse Green Bay Packers Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): DL Spencer Waege Placed on reserve/retired list: OL Trente Jones Kansas City Chiefs Re-signed: LB Cole Christiansen Released: DT Matt Dickerson Los Angeles Chargers Signed: DL Chris Collins Miami Dolphins Signed: OL Ireland Brown, CB Jason Maitre Minnesota Vikings Signed ..read more

The Falcons continue to add to the number of 2024 draftees on the books. Second-round defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro signed his rookie deal on Monday, per a team announcement. Atlanta provided the NFL world with the biggest surprise of the draft’s first night by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. The team added an eventual Kirk Cousins successor in the process, but they also tried to move back into the first-round order. The latter move would have seen the Falcons acquire No. 10 overall, thus allowing them to add a defensive player. Edge rush was ..read more

The Falcons are adding a pair of defenders to their offseason roster. The team is signing defensive back Dane Cruikshank and defensive lineman Bradlee Anae, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The duo auditioned for the Falcons yesterday. Cruikshank is the more experienced of the two, with the defensive back having appeared in 54 career games (plus four playoff appearances). The majority of that playing time came with the Titans, where the former fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career. After compiling a career-high 43 tackles in 2021, Cruikshank has bounced around the NFL o ..read more